Local sex offender legislation altered

1:37 PM,
Aug. 27, 2013

Map showing where sex offenders could reside if they could not live within 1,500 feet of schools, parks, pools, and other public facilities. The 1,500-foot limit was deemed too restrictive by members of City Council, and one said the restriction may not hold up in court. Blue areas are school properties, green are park or memorial properties, light yellow is the Boys and Girls Club, library or YMCA. The areas marked with blue diagonal lines are where sex offenders could not live under the 1,500-foot law, and the yellow areas are where they could. Courtesy of the planning commission.

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City Council changed the proposed amendment that would prohibit sex offenders from living within 1,500 feet of parks, schools, recreational facilities and other areas on Monday night after the amendment's author, Josh Daniels, D-at large, said it may be too restrictive.

Council moved to change the restrictions back to 1,000 feet, but to keep the increased list of areas that offenders may not live next to. Daniels said there may be a constitutional challenge with a 1,500 foot limit, as it greatly limits the places where sex offenders can live in the city.